ASLAV - Light Armoured Vehicle 8x8.

The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, ASLAV-25,
is a wheeled, eight wheel drive (8x8), amphibious
vehicle from the Diesel Division, General Motors (DDGM) of Canada.
The one pictured above has been under evaluation
by the Australian Army for about three years.
It must have done its stuff, because the design has been adopted by
the Australian Army.
DDGM has contracted British Aerospace Australia
(BAeA)
to fit-out and finish the ASLAV at its South Australia plant.
This includes air-conditioning and fitting the widest wheels and tyres
to suit Australian conditions.

DDGM reports that
over 4000 Light Armoured Vehicles have been sold world-wide including
1500 to the Canadian Army,
800 to the US Marine Corps,
1300 to the Saudi Arabia National Guard,
600 to the Saudi Army.
Australia has ordered 112,
including 4 recovery vehicles and 6 fitters vehicles.

Wheeled armoured vehicles are attractive compared to tracked vehicles
because of their reliability, low maintenance costs
and ability to transport themselves quickly over long distances.

Amphibious Capability.

Propulsion in the water comes
from two neatly mounted propellers, one each side.
Top speed afloat is a handy 11kph.
The turret is perfectly balanced so it can be traversed and the gun fired
while in the water.

There is a tiny rudder behind each propeller
and it is hard to credit that these are large enough,
although they are directly in the propeller flow.
In fact the rudders gain considerable assistance from the
front four steering road wheels.

Getting into the water is rarely a problem for an amphibious vehicle
but getting out can be altogether more difficult.
Partly for this reason, each ASLAV is fitted with a 15,000lb
hydraulic self-recovery winch mounted behind a front
hatch.